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04 LC 31 0750
House Resolution
1629
By: Representatives Noel of the 44th, Smith of the 13th, Post 2, Murphy of the 97th, Dollar of the 31st, and Harrell of the 54th
By: Representatives Noel of the 44th, Smith of the 13th, Post 2, Murphy of the 97th, Dollar of the 31st, and Harrell of the 54th
A RESOLUTION
Creating the Joint Study Committee on Truck Safety on the
Highways; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, over 15,000 people have lost their lives in this state in motor vehicle crashes in the past ten years, and Georgia has been in the top five states for the past five years for fatalities in motor vehicle crashes involving large trucks; and
WHEREAS, Georgia's population has grown dramatically in the past decade and with the growth in population has come an increase in drivers, vehicles, miles traveled, and crashes; and
WHEREAS, the top contributing factors to crashes are following too closely, failing to yield, losing control of the vehicle, and unsafe or illegal speed; and
WHEREAS, in fatal crashes, the top contributing factors are losing control of the vehicle, alcohol or drug impairment, and unsafe or illegal speed; and
WHEREAS, according to the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicle Safety, in 2001, one out of six fatalities in this state occurred in a crash involving a large truck; and
WHEREAS, in almost 60 percent of the fatal crashes involving large trucks, the point of impact was the front of the large truck; and
WHEREAS, of the fatalities that occurred in crashes involving at least one large truck, 85 percent of the people killed were occupants of the smaller vehicle compared with 15 percent for the large truck occupants; and
WHEREAS, this enormous loss of life and infliction of serious injury impact not only the health of our people but the well-being of our families through the loss or injury of parents and children and the resulting effects of such loss on the family unit;
WHEREAS, these crashes also impact the health of the economy of this state through lost productivity as a result of lost earnings, lost work, financial hardship, and traffic congestion; and
WHEREAS, other states have passed laws requiring trucks to travel at a reduced speed limit on the highways, and it is important to study the impact that these laws have made on public safety.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that there is created the Joint Study Committee on Truck Safety on the Highways to be composed of 14 members. The Chairperson of the House Committee on Transportation and the Chairperson of the Senate Transportation Committee shall serve as cochairpersons. The Chairperson of the House Committee on Transportation shall appoint two members of the House of Representatives and one person who is not a member of the General Assembly as members of the committee. The Chairperson of the Senate Transportation Committee shall appoint two members of the Senate and one person who is not a member of the General Assembly as members of the committee. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member of the House of Representatives and one person who is not a member of the General Assembly as members of the committee. The Senate Committee on Assignments shall appoint one member of the Senate and one person who is not a member of the General Assembly as members of the committee. The Governor shall appoint one member of the General Assembly and one person who is not a member of the General Assembly as members of the committee. The committee shall meet at the call of the cochairpersons. Seven members shall constitute a quorum.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems set forth in this resolution and may recommend any actions or legislation which the committee deems appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. Nonlegislative members of the committee who are not public officials or employees shall receive from legislative funds a daily expense allowance as provided in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. Any nonlegislative public official or employee on the committee shall receive no compensation from legislative funds but may be reimbursed for expenses actually incurred. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the Senate and the House of Representatives. The expenses and allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. In the event the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 31, 2004. The committee shall stand abolished on December 31, 2004.
WHEREAS, over 15,000 people have lost their lives in this state in motor vehicle crashes in the past ten years, and Georgia has been in the top five states for the past five years for fatalities in motor vehicle crashes involving large trucks; and
WHEREAS, Georgia's population has grown dramatically in the past decade and with the growth in population has come an increase in drivers, vehicles, miles traveled, and crashes; and
WHEREAS, the top contributing factors to crashes are following too closely, failing to yield, losing control of the vehicle, and unsafe or illegal speed; and
WHEREAS, in fatal crashes, the top contributing factors are losing control of the vehicle, alcohol or drug impairment, and unsafe or illegal speed; and
WHEREAS, according to the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicle Safety, in 2001, one out of six fatalities in this state occurred in a crash involving a large truck; and
WHEREAS, in almost 60 percent of the fatal crashes involving large trucks, the point of impact was the front of the large truck; and
WHEREAS, of the fatalities that occurred in crashes involving at least one large truck, 85 percent of the people killed were occupants of the smaller vehicle compared with 15 percent for the large truck occupants; and
WHEREAS, this enormous loss of life and infliction of serious injury impact not only the health of our people but the well-being of our families through the loss or injury of parents and children and the resulting effects of such loss on the family unit;
WHEREAS, these crashes also impact the health of the economy of this state through lost productivity as a result of lost earnings, lost work, financial hardship, and traffic congestion; and
WHEREAS, other states have passed laws requiring trucks to travel at a reduced speed limit on the highways, and it is important to study the impact that these laws have made on public safety.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that there is created the Joint Study Committee on Truck Safety on the Highways to be composed of 14 members. The Chairperson of the House Committee on Transportation and the Chairperson of the Senate Transportation Committee shall serve as cochairpersons. The Chairperson of the House Committee on Transportation shall appoint two members of the House of Representatives and one person who is not a member of the General Assembly as members of the committee. The Chairperson of the Senate Transportation Committee shall appoint two members of the Senate and one person who is not a member of the General Assembly as members of the committee. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member of the House of Representatives and one person who is not a member of the General Assembly as members of the committee. The Senate Committee on Assignments shall appoint one member of the Senate and one person who is not a member of the General Assembly as members of the committee. The Governor shall appoint one member of the General Assembly and one person who is not a member of the General Assembly as members of the committee. The committee shall meet at the call of the cochairpersons. Seven members shall constitute a quorum.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems set forth in this resolution and may recommend any actions or legislation which the committee deems appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. Nonlegislative members of the committee who are not public officials or employees shall receive from legislative funds a daily expense allowance as provided in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. Any nonlegislative public official or employee on the committee shall receive no compensation from legislative funds but may be reimbursed for expenses actually incurred. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the Senate and the House of Representatives. The expenses and allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. In the event the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 31, 2004. The committee shall stand abolished on December 31, 2004.